Device for toting skis and ski poles



y 1966 G. R. SANDENBURGH 3,

DEVICE FOR TOTING SKIS AND SKI POLES Filed July 16, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG ' FIG 3 M F/G 2 f 22 )7 {a 24 w Z5 w 1: mg: 4% 52/ 24 i 42 l I m 35 [a 4: 55 9% Z INVENTOR.

\.-\ GEORGE R. SANDENBURGH ATTORNEYS J y 1966 G. R. SANDENBURGH 3,

DEVICE FOR TOTING SKIS AND SKI POLES Filed July 16, 1964 FIG. 4

2 SneetsSheet 2 United States Patent 3,260,430 DEVICE FOR TOTING SKIS AND SKI POLES George R. Sandenburgh, 140 Woodland Drive, South Windsor, Conn. Filed July 16, 1964, Ser. No. 383,115 6 Claims. (Cl. 224-45) The present invention relates to accessories for the skier, and deals more particularly with a device for toting a pair of skis and a pair of ski poles.

The general object of the present invention is to provide a device for carrying a pair of skis and a pair of poles, which device is suitable for use in pairs and permits the poles themselves to be used as a handle.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a device for carrying a pair of skis and a pair of poles, which device is of relatively simple construction so as to be well adapted to low cost quantity production.

The drawings show preferred embodiments of the invention and such embodiments will be described, but it will be understood that various changes may be made from the constructions disclosed, and that the drawings and description are not to be construed as defining or limiting the scope of the invention, the claims forming a part of this specification being relied upon for that purpose.

Of the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a pair devices constructed in accordance with the present invention, and shows these devices as they would be used with "a pair of skis and a pair of ski poles;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of one of the devices shown in FIG. 1 taken along the line 22 of that figure and drawn to a larger scale; and

FIG. 3 is a side view of one of the devices shown in FIG. 1 and drawn to the larger scale of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 2 but showing an alternative embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the FIG. 4 device.

Turning now to the drawings in greater detail, FIG. 1 shows two devices 10, constructed in accordance with the present invention and secured to a pair of skis 12, 12 in spaced relationship and to a pair of ski poles 14, 14 so as to permit the latter to serve as a handle for carrying the resulting assembly. FIG. 4 shows an alternative embodiment 56 of the present invention which can be used in pairs with a pair of skis 12, 12 and a pair of ski poles 14, 14. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the skis 12, 12 are arranged with their bottom surfaces 13, 13 facing one 'another so that the ski boot binding hardware (not shown) does not interfere with the intended use of the devices 10, 10. The poles 14, 14 are oppositely oriented as shown, but may be similarly oriented without adversely effecting the use of the devices 10, 10.

Considering first the FIG. 1 construction, FIG. 2 shows the device 10 of FIG. 1 as comprising a generally C-shaped hanger member 16 having an elongated vertical portion and first and second generally horizontal legs 18 and 20 extending outwardly therefrom at lower and upper portions thereof respectively. As so constructed, the lower portion of the hanger member 16 defines an L-shaped ski receptacle for receiving a pair of skis arranged with their bottom surfaces 13, 13 facing one another. In the same manner, a ski pole receptacle is defined at the upper portion of said hanger member 16 and the latter receptacle has a downwardly facing surface 22 the function of which will be described hereinbelow.

The skis 12, 12 and ski poles 14, 14 are releas'ably retained in their respective receptacles by resilient means comprising at least one elastic strap member 24 which is attached to the hanger member 16 intermediate the legs, 18 and 20, and has two free ends 26 and 28 respectively,

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which are adapted to being releasably secured to said legs as shown.

Preferably and as shown, the mechanism for clamping ad acent intermediate portions of said strap 24 to said hanger member 16 comprises two U-shaped clamps 30 and 32 each of which has an elongated opening, 34 and 36 respectively. Two threaded posts 38 and 40 are provided intermedi'ately of the vertical portion of said hanger member 16 for adjustably receiving said clamps 30 and 32 respectively to suit skis and poles of various widths and thickness, and wing nuts 42, 42 are threadably received on said posts for anchoring adjacent intermediate portions of said strap 24 to the hanger member 16. The strap 24 may be slotted as shown in FIG. 3 at 44, also to permit the length of its free end portions 26 and 28 to be adjusted for skis and poles of various cross sectional sizes. Also in this vein, two straps could be provided in place of the single strap member shown without departing from the scope of the present invention.

In further accord with the present invention, first and second loops 46 and 48 are carried by the free end portions 26 and 28 respectively, of said strap 24 and these loops, 46 and 48, are adapted to be releasably secured to the outer ends of the first and second legs, 18 and 20 respectively. While these loops, 46 and 48, may be defined in the ends of the strap, preferably and as shown, the loops comprise generally flat metal rings of rectangular shape having one side passed through an opening provided therefor in the strap, and having an opposite side adapted to encircle the legs 18 and 20. These legs 18 and 20 have a necked down portion to receive the metal loops 46 and 48 respectively and a loop retaining member 50 is provided on the outside surface of each of said legs, 18 and 20, to retain the strap in one of a plurality of sockets 52, 52 defined in said member 50. As so constructed, the device can accommodate skis of different thicknesses and poles of various diameters.

Finally, two levers 54, 54 are pivotally received on the outer sides of the loops, 46 and 48 respectively, which loops are to be received in the sockets 52, 52. The levers 54, 54 serve as a convenient manual means for the skier in assembling his skis and poles with devices of the present invention and the outer surfaces of these levers 54, 54 are adapted to engage the outer edges of the loop retaining members 50, 50 as the lever is rotated through the dotted position shown in FIG. 2 toward a position wherein the loops 46 and 48 can be conveniently slipped over the ends of the legs 18 and 20 respectively. Thus, the levers 54, 54 serve to hold the strap 24 in position as shown as wellas functioning as camming surfaces when the loops 46 and 48 are to be removed from the sockets 52, 52 as shown by the dotted lines in FIG. 2.

As mentioned hereinabove, the device just described is for use in toting a pair of skis and a pair of ski poles, and when two devices 10, 10 are used in spaced relationship as shown in FIG. 1, a convenient assembly is provided for carrying the otherwise very awkward skis and poles. As so arranged, the ski poles 14, 14 serve as a convenient handle for carrying the entire assembly. When so carried, the weight of the skis 12, 12 is borne by the poles, since the poles engage the downwardly facing surfaces 22, 22 of the ski pole receptacles in each device 10, 10, and the said devices in turn support the skis as described hereinabove.

Turning now to the alternative embodiment 56 shown in FIG. 4, the device there shown will be seen to comprise a generally C-shaped hanger member 58 having an elongated vertical portion and first and second generally horizontal legs 60 and 62 extending outwardly therefrom at lower and upper portions thereof respectively. As in the previously described embodiment, the lower portion of member 58 defines an L-shaped ski receptacle for receiving the skis 12, 12. A sk-i pole receptacle is also defined at the upper portion thereof and the downwardly facing surface 64 serves the same purpose as the surface 22 described previously with reference to the previous embodiment.

The skis 12, 12 and poles 14, 14 are releasably retained in their respective receptacles by resilient means connected to the outer ends of each of said legs, 60 and 62. As shown, said resilient means comprises two arms, 66 and 68, hingedly connected to these legs, 60 and 62 respectively. The arms 66 and 68 have sponge rubber pads, 70 and 72, cemented respectively to their inner surfaces, and said arms can be releasably clamped to the hanger member by suitable means to be described.

Preferably and as shown, each arm has a hooked outer end portion which is adapted to be engaged by a ring or loop 74 pivotally supported on said hanger member intermediate the upper and lower portions thereof. A formed strip 76 of spring steel or the like is riveted to the inner surface of the vertical portion of the hanger member and said strip 76 in conjunction with said inner surface defines two sockets 78, 80 for pivotally supporting two such rings 74, 74.

As so constructed the device 56 can be used in pairs, as mentioned hereinabove with reference to the device shown in FIGS. 13, and is well suited for carrying a pair of skis together with a pair of ski poles.

The invention claimed is:

1. A device for toting a pair of skis and a pair of ski poles whereby the poles can be used as a handle, said device comprising at least one normally vertical hanger member, a generally horizontal first leg extending outwardly from the lower portion of said hanger member, said first leg cooperating with the contiguous vertical portion of said hanger so as to define an L-shaped ski receptacle for receiving a pair of skis arranged with their bottom surfaces facing one another, a second leg extending outwardly from the upper portion of said hanger member so as to define a downwardly facing surface of a ski pole receptacle, said downwardly facing surface on said hanger member describing an angle with respect to said vertical portion which is no more than 90, first and second arms hingedly connected at their respective ends to the outer ends of said first and second legs respectively, a resilient pad attached to an inwardly facing surface of said first arm and adapted to engage said skis in said ski receptacle, a resilient pad attached to an inwardly facing surface of said second arm and adapted to engage said poles in said ski pole receptacle, and means for releasably clamping each of said arms to said hanger member intermediate the upper and lower portions thereof.

2. A device for toting a pair of skis and a pair of poles as set forth in claim 1 wherein said clamping means comprises first and second rings pivotally supported on. said hanger member intermediate the upper and lower portions thereof, and said first and second arms having first and second hooked outer end portions respectively, which hooked portions are adapted to be engaged by said rings for releasably retaining said skis and poles in their respective receptacles.

3. A device for toting a pair of skis and a pair of ski poles in assembled relation so that the poles can be used as a handle, said device comprising two vertically disposed hanger members adapted for use in spaced relation with said skis, each of said hanger members having an elongated vertical portion and a generally horizontal first leg extending outwardly from the lower end of said vertical portion to define an L-shaped ski receptacle for receiving a pair of skis having their bottom surfaces adjacent one another, a second leg extending outwardly from the upper end of said vertical portion to define a ski pole receptacle having a downwardly facing surface, said downwardly facing surfaces on each of said hanger members describing an angle with respect to the respective vertical portions which is no more than so that substantially all of the lifting force exerted on said poles in carrying the resulting assembly is reacted by said downwardly facing surfaces, resilient ski retaining means connected to the outer ends of each of said first horizontal legs respectively, resilient pole retaining means connected to the outer ends of each of said second legs respectively, and mechanism for releasably clamping said resilient ski and pole retaining means to the respective vertical portions of said hanger members intermediate the upper and lower ends of each of said members whereby the resulting assembly can be conveniently lifted by use of said ski poles.

4. A device for toting a pair of skis and a pair of ski poles as set forth in claim 3 wherein said resilient means for retaining said skis and said poles comprises at least one elastic strap member attached to said hanger member intermediate the upper and lower end thereof, and first and second free ends of said strap member being adapted to be releasably secured to the outer ends of said first and second horizontal legs respectively so that said strap can be passed around a pair of skis and a pair of poles received in said ski and said ski pole receptacles respectively.

5. A device for toting a pair of skis and a pair of ski poles as set forth in claim 4 and further characterized by at least one strap clamping mechanism releasably secured to a vertical intermediate portion of said hanger member for anchoring said strap member thereto.

6. A device for toting a pair of skis and .a pair of ski poles as set forth in claim 5 wherein a single such strap member is provided on each of said hanger members, and wherein said strap clamping mechanism comprises two U-shaped clamps which are individually adjustable longitudinally of said elongated hanger for clamping adjacent intermediate portions of said strap member to its associated hanger member.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,268,958 11/1942 Parten et al. 3,114,487 12/1963 Miller et .al 22445.16

FOREIGN PATENTS 22,268 2/1948 Finland. 147,194 10/ 1936 Germany. 570,654 2/ 1933 Germany. 41,353 3/1925 Norway. 63,139 1/1941' Norway. 81,402 9/ 1934 Sweden.

GERALD M. FORLENZA, Primary Examiner.

J. OLDS, Assistant Examiner. 

3. A DEVICE FOR TOTING A PAIR OF SKIS AND A PAIR OF SKI POLES IN ASSEMBLED RELATION SO THAT THE POLES CAN BE USED AS A HANDLE, SAID DEVICE COMPRISING TWO VERTICALLY DISPOSED HANGER MEMBERS ADAPTED FOR USE IN SPACED RELATION WITH SAID SKIS, EACH OF SAID HANGER MEMBERS HAVING AN ELONGATED VERTICAL PORTION AND A GENERALLY HORIZONTAL FIRST LEG EXTENDING OUTWARDLY FROM THE LOWER END OF SAID VERTICAL PORTION TO DEFINE AN L-SHAPED SKI RECEPTACLE FOR RECEIVING A PAIR OF SKIS HAVING THEIR BOTTOM SURFACES ADJACENT ONE ANOTHER, A SECOND LEG EXTENDING OUTWARDLY FROM THE UPPER END OF SAID VERTICAL PORTION TO DEFINE A SKI POLE RECEPTACLE HAVING A DOWNWARDLY FACING SURFACE, SAID DOWNWARDLY FACING SURFACES ON EACH OF SAID HANGER MEMBERS DESCRIBING AN ANGLE WITH RESPECT TO THE RESPECTIVE VERTICAL PORTIONS WHICH IS NO MORE THAN 90* SO THAT SUBSTANTIALLY ALL OF THE LIFTING FORCE EXERTED ON SAID POLES IN CARRYING THE RESULTING ASSEMBLY IS REACTED BY SAID DOWNWARDLY FACING SURFACES, RESILIENT SKI RETAINING MEANS CONNECTED TO THE OUTER ENDS OF EACH OF SAID FIRST HORIZONTAL LEGS RESPECTIVELY, RESILIENT POLE RETAINING MEANS CONNECTED TO THE OUTER ENDS OF EACH OF SAID SECOND LEGS RESPECTIVELY, AND MECHANISM FOR RELEASABLY CLAMPING SAID RESILIENT SKI AND POLE RETAINING MEANS TO THE RESPECTIVE VERTICAL PORTIONS OF SAID HANGER MEMBERS INTERMEDIATE THE UPPER AND LOWER ENDS OF EACH OF SAID MEMBERS WHEREBY THE RESULTING ASSEMBLY CAN BE CONVENIENTLY LIFTED BY USE OF SAID SKI POLES. 